Calorie discrepancy on packaging?

 I love using the calorie tracker, but I've run into a few cases where the number of calories on the package itself is different from the number cited when I use the calorie counter. I'm talking about the exact same brand name, portion size, etc.

For ex: a Boca vegan burger is 70 calories according to the package, but 100 calories according to the site's counter.

Has this happened to anyone else?  And what do you do? I'm trying to be as accurate as possible.

id guess that the calorie content on the package is more accurate then the one on the site...

Well, sure. I'm just not sure how to enter it accurately if it's wrong on the site.

I found that problem with a few things I've entered. I would enter under the column already know the calorie content. In my opinion the calorie counter on the package would be the most updated. Companies do change the formula of their products from time to time so I'd go with whats on the package.

 

I know you said you wanna be as accurate as possible. However, a quick and dirty way, would be to adjust the portion size. In this case you could enter .70 - assumming the counter lets you use decimal points. I am only suggesting this as a solution for those times you might be in a hurry.

I use a different tracker (on my Treo), and that's what I would do.

Best Regards, NuBiker

Adjusting the portion size is not a good idea if the company changed the ingredients; it means that you changing the portion size of the old formula (or the american formula; there seems to be a discrepancy between american and canadian ingredients), you are not providing an accurate reflection of the nutritional content of the food you actually ate.

The way I like to do it is:

1) Go to TOOLS

2) Click FOOD LOG

3) to the right of where you search for the food is a number that says " If you know the calorie content for a particular food, add it here using a small form.".

4) Click on that link and copy in the information from the package

5)Tag that item and add it again whenever you eat it again.
The more details you provide, the better the analysis. It is recommended that you accurately track the weight of entered items. We recommend the Vitaminder Food Scale. -->

Also, I'm not sure why it added that little blurb about the vitaminder at the end, but I didn't type it...

sorry for the spam :)

I had the same problem with the boca burger. I think it's ok to just kick up the portion size. The normal patty is 71 grams, and about 70 calories. If you say other for portion size and put in 100 grams, then you'll come out with the 100 calories, give or take.

I know it's not spot on, but sometimes it's easier than doing the "add it here." That doesn't always work for me, sometimes even when I add it exactly, next time I go to use the tag, the carbs and protein might have dropped to 0. Also I don't particularly like the boca burgers so the rest of the pack is sitting in the freezer :)

Thanks for the replies. I find the "add your own" function to be time-consuming, and I end up nor having the full nutritional analysis. Adjusting the portion size might be closer to accurate and at least it will keep my calories right.

i too have encountered this problem (canned soup and skippy natural peanut butter). 

HOWEVER, w/regard to the boca burger:  there's a "original vegan" = 70 cal

and a "vegan" = 100 calories.  if the one you have is the 70 calorie kind, then it's the "original" one.  cc has a listing for that, and the nutrient info is accurate.

I found that problem as well. I go to the ADD button and add what the package says because I like that # better than cc sometimes!

Oh thanks! I didn't see the "original" option! Problem solved. This time, anyway.

I think it really is mostly just that companies change their recipes.  I occasionally buy the little mini Melba Toasts and they actually have a sticker stuck over their old nutrition label adjusting for new counts and such.  (and from what I can see through the sticker, calories went down about 20 cals if the serving stayed the same!)

Definitely always go with the box if you want the nutritional values to be right.  However, if you are in a rush, as others have said, and you really just care about the calorie content, adjusting the serving size works wonders